Colonista: One Woman's Search for the World's Best Colon Cleansing

Spring Cleaning Your Colon?

The birds are chirping, and it’s definitely spring outside.  As I was sifting through articles about colon health like I do every day, I came across one that caught my eye:  “Communicategreen:  A Spring Cleansing.”

The article’s author, Christopher Peake, documents his own colon cleansing experience, starting with his meeting with a local holistic health counselor to discuss his options.  Peake decided to go with a liquids-only cleanse, and after checking with his general physician, he prepped his body for a spring cleanse.

If you’re thinking about participating in a colon cleanse and have read through our various case studies, this is just one more that you can read through to decide which kind of cleansing is for you.

As for Peake’s outcome?  “I felt better, slept better, and I knew I was healthier.  But more important, I knew I could do it.”

So what do you say?  Is it time for you to cleanse your colon and feel better?

Case Study: Natural Cleanse/Fast, Part Four

Our case study participant, Laura, has completed her Epsom salt, grapefruit, and olive oil cleanse.  After mucho time spent in the potty, what do you think, Laura?

 

“To imagine that crap, no pun intended, had been plastered inside my body for who knows how long was revolting and proof positive that colon cleansing is necessary to remove all of the old poop, toxins and parasites from building up in your system and toxifying your blood.  Not to mention, following the cleanse, I was 7 pounds lighter, most of which was poop, and no longer felt bloated or tired!

 

“I started the cleanse on a Friday, spent most of Saturday pooping, and Sunday morning was back to normal.  I began eating some broth and other foods easy on the stomach and committed myself to a lifetime of eating healthy organic foods and cleaning my colon every few months.”

 

This is what I love to hear.  It sounds like Laura’s experience was completely positive, so I give this case study a five out of five!

 

Want to know what I’m up to?  Follow me at www.twitter.com/colonista

 

Case Study: Natural Cleanse/Fast, Part Three

The last we saw, Laura had just completed her all-natural cleansing day of only consuming grapefruit, Epsom salt, and olive oil.  So let’s see if she ends up spending the entire night in the loo.

“I couldn’t sleep because I could literally feel my colon opening up and it almost felt like marbles were rolling around inside me.”  Nice visual!  This is how you know it’s working, people!

“There were some strange noises and sensations, and I definitely felt nauseated at several points.  My dad was doing the cleanse, too, but he never felt sick to his stomach like I did.  That feeling soon passed, and the flood gates began to open, literally.

“It was disgusting yet amazing seeing the nastiness that was expelled from my liver and intestines.  I had never inspected my poop in the past, but the things that showed up in the toilet required me to hold my nose while looking into the toilet with a flashlight inspecting the “results.”  Green pea-sized balls, sheets of long green and yellow crap that looked almost like saran wrap the way it was bunched together, and even some tar-like poop arrived in the toilet bowl.  That sounds gross, but it’s impossible not to check out the things your body expels when they are so different from the things you see on a regular basis.”

Gross, Laura.  Seriously—I thought that there was no way I could be grossed out after writing this blog for months on end, but your description of your poop was…gross.

 

Let’s see how Laura feels prior-cleanse tomorrow.

Case Study: Natural Fast/Cleanse, Part Two

To refresh your memory, our case study participant Laura has decided to start a natural cleanse by fasting and consuming only grapefruit, Epsom salt, and olive oil.  Let’s see how the cleanse actually went…

 

“The day I decided to do the cleanse was on a Friday.  I had a light breakfast of fruit and half a grapefruit for lunch.  That afternoon I drank my first dose of the Epsom salt, olive oil, and grapefruit mixture.  It was really hard going down, but I knew it would help me in the end so I gulped it down and then swished my mouth out with water.”  Yuck.  That definitely doesn’t sound tasty.  I offer you serious kudos, Laura, for sucking it up and chugging it down!

 

“The next serving was just before bed.  This time, I used a straw to drink the mixture to reduce the taste, and I held my nose!  It sounds silly, but not smelling the mixture made drinking it a lot easier.  I immediately lay down on my side in bed, although it was early, and began to wait.  I knew what was coming and that I could spend all night in the bathroom, so I tried to get some rest.”

 

Smart girl, Laura.  Because it’s safe to say that all colon cleansing methods lead to one place:  the potty.

 

Case Study: Natural Fast/Cleanse, Part One

Our newest case study participant is Laura.  There are many different reasons that someone would want to try colon cleansing, so we asked Laura where her interest came from.

 

“In my early twenties, I went on the South Beach Diet and successfully lost 15 pounds.  However, as I was reading the diet book and learning more about the foods we eat and how they affect our bodies, I began to wonder if all the junk food, toxins, hydrogenated oils, and various medicines I had taken over the years were still partially in my body and affecting my life through migraines, cravings, acne, and other symptoms.

 

“Soon, I began to read about the benefits of cleansing the colon as well as the liver. This sounded like an excellent way to rid my body of all the bad toxins, parasites, and fecal matter that had built up over the years. I wanted a natural method and didn’t want to add more chemicals or toxins to my body. So, I chose to use a natural method of fasting, grapefruit juice, olive oil, and Epsom salts over a 48 hour period.”

I am stoked to see what Laura experiences during and after her all-natural fasting and cleanse.  We’ve seen all of our case study participants use specific products, but we have yet to find someone who has tried a home remedy-type cleanse.

 

Come back tomorrow and see how Laura’s natural methods pay off.

 

Heartburn Feels Like….

Well, it doesn’t feel good.  That much is clear.  But it can be difficult trying to explain what heartburn feels like to someone who has never experienced it.  These are some of the most common symptoms of heartburn:

• Chest pain, especially when lying down, eating, or after bending over.
• A burning sensation in your chest after eating.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Sensation that food is stuck in your chest or throat.
• Heartburn can also cause:  sore throat, chronic hoarseness, or chronic cough.

The first time that I had heartburn, I thought that some vomit had gotten stuck in my throat.  I feel acidic and in serious pain.

How do you describe the feeling of heartburn?

 

 

Treating Pesky Diverticulitis

If you’ve been diagnosed with diverticulitis, you’re undoubtedly wondering:  what next?  Treatment depends greatly upon your symptoms.

If you are experiencing mild pain, have no signs of complications, and can drink liquids, you’ll most likely have to:

• Take a medication such as pain relievers and/or antibiotics.
• Alter your diet with a bland, low-fiber diet until the pain subsides.
  

If you are experiencing severe pain, have complications, or aren’t able to drink liquids, you’ll have to be hospitalized and:

• Receive an antibiotic IV.
• Receive nutrition and fluids via IV.
• Very rarely, you may have to have surgery.
• Keep your stomach empty.

You’ll also need to participate in ongoing treatment for the condition, which includes:

• Drinking plenty of fluids.
• Gradually increasing the amount of fiber in your diet.
• Regularly visit your doctor to regulate your condition.

So don’t lose hope!  You can treat your diverticulitis and not let it bother your day to day life.

Treating Colon Cancer: Overwhelming, but Possible!

Being diagnosed with any cancer is undesirable.  However, there are different treatment options for those who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

First, a surgery will be done to remove the tumor.  Once the tumor has been looked at closely under a microscope, your doctor will tell you which stage colorectal cancer you are in.  The stages are set up like this:

• Stage I:  The cancer is isolated within the colon/ rectum
• Stage II:  The cancer has spread to the muscle layer of your colon/rectum.
• Stage III:  It has spread to one or more lymph nodes.
• Stage IV:  It has spread to other body parts such as the lung, liver or bones.
  

If your cancer hasn’t spread beyond the colon or rectum, you’ll most likely just need surgery.  However, if it has spread, you’ll be looking at chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of the two.

Beyond the treatment that has been discussed here, you will want to take care of your emotional wellbeing.  Find someone to talk to about your feelings and what you’re going through with your colorectal cancer. 

You will also need regular checkups including various types of screenings such as physical exams, colonoscopies, carcinoembryonic antigens, and other tests.

If all goes well, your colorectal cancer will stay in remission!

If you want to know what I’m up to, check www.twitter.com/colonista.

 

Test Me for Diverticulitis

There is a wide variety of tests and screenings that can be used to determine if you have diverticulitis.  Which tests and how many tests your doctor recommends depends upon your symptoms.

These are some routine tests that are performed any time you go to your doctor because of abdominal pain:

• Urinalysis checks for a urinary tract infection.
• Complete blood count can show if you have an infection of not enough red blood cells due to bleeding in your colon.
• Abdominal X-ray
• Fecal occult blood test looks for blood in your stools.
• Digital rectal exam looks for a mass or tenderness in your lower pelvic area.

The following tests are done depending totally on the symptoms you are experiencing:

·         Barium enema X-ray

·         Computed tomography (CT) scan checks to see if a diverticulum has burst or if you have a pocket of abscess in your abdomen.

·         Colonoscopy or flexible digmoidoscopy

·         Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy checks out your stomach and upper part of your small intestine.

·         Upper gastrointestinal series checks out your stomach and small intestine.

If you are experiencing diverticular bleeding, then your doctor will likely want to perform a technetium-labeled red blood cell bleeding scan or angiogram.

I know—these are a lot of tests and screenings to worry about!  But the sooner you know why you are experiencing these symptoms, the sooner you can try to ease them!

Preventative Screenings: Keep Colorectal Cancer Away!

There are several different screening tests that, when done regularly, can help to catch any signs of colorectal cancer before symptoms appear.  These screenings are highly recommended for those over the age of fifty.

 For people over fifty who have an average risk of colorectal cancer, at least one of the following should be done:

• Stool tests suck as the FIT, sDNA or FOBT should be taken each year.
• Sigmoidoscopy every five years.
• Barium enema every five years.
• Colonoscopy every ten years.
• Virtual colonoscopy every five years.

 And this isn’t all you can do to prevent colorectal cancer.  The following tips can help you to stay healthy and dodge the colorectal cancer bullet.

 Maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet.

• Keep an eye on your weight.
• Stay active.
• Quit smoking!
• Limit your drinking.

 Have you had any experiences with colorectal cancer?  Share your stories and thoughts here!